Just a doctor?

If you are a woman, do you have a preference about seeing a male or female gynecologist? If you are a man, do you have strong feelings about the gender of the gynecologist your wife or girlfriend sees?

I'm working through this issue with my boyfriend and I have been surprised to find that he is not alone in being extremely uncomfortable with the idea of me (potentially) being examined by a male doctor. I am torn between my desire to make him comfortable with the situation, particularly since I don't really have a strong preference and because it is something that does affect both of us, and my indignation that he thinks his insecurity and prejudices should play a role in my health care choices. Has anyone else dealt with this?

Being a man I do not have strong feelings on the gender of my female significant other's gynecologist. I also do not travel in the same social circle as her OBGYN and am not sure this wouldn't make a difference. I am not uncomfortable at the moment when we meet/greet him, but then again he is not a young, handsome competitor of mine for her attention. He is in fact a highly trained professional being paid for his knowledge and practice to ensure she is safely monitored. I would think such a doctor would be a very personal choice and although not female, I value my FSO's assessment for her. Above all, I would opine it to be very important that you have confidence and trust in a medical examiner to have/know the skills that would be important for your health. That being said, it falls to me, secondarily, to be supportive of her choice. This would be in "the best interest of her well being" above my feelings of insecuriity or inadequacy within our relationship. So, her safety and health first. My support second, and our relationship thereafter. With that being said, it is just my opinion after all. Some might believe that if the relationship is well established first, then the rest will fall in place. Well, possibly, but if that were the case then there would not be an issue for some males on the OBGYN's gender. Thank you for the opportunity to express my view.

I'm not sure why the S.O. would care, one way or the other. The whole exam is so darned clinical -- who is thinking about anything else? Every time I've had a male OB/GYN, there's been at least one female nurse in the room with me.

Oh, and I don't think that female GYN's are necessarily more gentle just because they have the same anatomy. I've had some real witches examine me. Happiest now with the male GYN i have now. He's got more empathy.

LvL: the short version

I am a new-ish litigator with an opinion on everything and a life that is much more dramatic in the retelling than in reality. Email me at LAWVLIFE at aol dot com, or leave a comment if you want me to read it soon.